THE anchor tenant of the new One City Park office development has been announced as PricewaterhouseCoopers – with the firm planning to have 500 staff based in the building.
The professional services firm will be moving just under 200 staff from its existing office on Godwin Street to the new site before recruiting another 300 staff who will be based in One City Park.
Bradford Council’s leader has described the announcement as a watershed moment for the city’s regeneration.
And one of PwC’s local bosses said Bradford had “enormous potential.”
Today’s announcement brings an end to months of questions over who will be taking on the £35m Grade A office development, construction of which was completed last year.
PwC will be taking on two floors of the building – the first purpose built, high quality office building to be constructed in the city centre for two decades.
The company opened its office in Bradford in 2019, with 66 people employed in the office between Provident’s headquarters and the former TJ Hughes building.
Since then it has expanded to 181 staff.
These employees will have made the move to One City Park by June, and PwC will begin recruiting new staff – with the goal of eventually having 500 employees based at One City Park.
One City Park has been built on the site of the former Tyrls Police Station, which had been vacant since 2007 and was demolished in 2015 to make way for a new business district in the city centre.
The original plan was for three office buildings, but as the years went by the plan evolved into the current One City Park design.
The building includes 56,403 sq foot of sustainable and modern workspace, and has been delivered by Muse, in partnership with Bradford Council, with direct support provided by West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership.
Council bosses said a lack of Grade A office space had prevented businesses from setting up in the city centre.
Today’s announcement said: “All of PwC’s Bradford staff will relocate to the new, 27,050 sq foot office space across two floors by June 2024, allowing the firm to continue its expansion plans in the city and increasing its workforce to around 500 employees over the next few years.
“When it opened back in 2019, PwC’s Bradford office employed 66 people. This has since grown to 181, with around 29% of people under the age of 20. With one of the most diverse populations in the country, Bradford was chosen as the ideal location for PwC’s Audit support and Operate Managed Services functions, allowing the firm to invest in the city and unlock the talent in the area."
Armoghan Mohammed, Regional Market Lead for the North, PwC UK, said: “One City Park is just one of the fantastic investments we’re seeing in Bradford at the moment. With the City of Culture 2025, the new Brit School for the North, Bradford Live and updated railway networks, the attraction for investment is growing, and the city along with it.
“We first moved to Bradford in 2019 recognising the incredible potential of the city’s young and diverse population. I grew up close to Bradford myself and remember a vibrant and diverse culture and educated population, it was easy to see the enormous opportunity that PwC saw.
"This new office space demonstrates the value and commitment we have in our people, clients and the local community in Bradford, and I’m extremely pleased to see the city also benefitting from the broader recognition and investment.”
Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Bradford Council, said: "The completion of One City Park and the announcement of PwC as an anchor tenant is a watershed moment for Bradford. Their strategic investment here is a real demonstration of the confidence business has in Bradford and the new growth this will generate.
"One City Park sets off Centenary Square magnificently, complementing our historic City Hall across the mirror pool and beautifully bringing together the heart of the city. PwC as main tenants will bring additional jobs, skills and opportunities to the district for many years to come and we're proud to have them as a central part of Bradford.
“A huge thanks to Muse and our construction partners for helping us realise this vision and bring the economic transformation of the city, and the district, a big step closer."
Simon Dew, development director at Muse, said: “This commitment from one of the world’s leading professional services firms is a boost to Bradford’s reputation as a desirable location for businesses to locate, grow and thrive. One City Park is part of a new chapter for Bradford, one which tells the story of a progressive, modern city where future generations will choose to live and work, attracted by the opportunity to fulfil their potential here.”
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